-IB is often implemented as a “magnet” program whereby students are bused to a remote location to attend IB. Even in non-magnet situations, IB students are often scheduled differently than non-IB students and tend to stick together.
- “We are IB” , students accept IB groupthink and identify with each other. IB student websites such as ibscrewed provide a social network for just IB students.
- This is accomplished through the IB scheduling, a heavier emphasis on "Progressive" literature rather than Conservative or objectivism. (TAIB is delighted to report that a few IB students have recently reported reading Ayn Rand's novella Anthem).
- the IB Coordinator
- IBO’s mission statement and goal of becoming a “global citizen“, TOK as the path to “knowing how to know”
- This is very relevant to IB. Over and over again TAIB has read of stressed out students who have to give up music and other activities and are up until 4:00 AM doing IB homework.
- The promise of college acceptance, credit and scholarships, allegedly makes all of the work worthwhile.
- This is achieved through the use of specific language IBO uses to promote its programs as superior by employing terms such as “rigorous”, “prestigious”, “higher critical thinking skills”, “inquiry-based”, “lifelong learners”, “cool to be smart” “depth not breadth”, etc. These sound bites (propaganda) are used everywhere IB is sold. Also, the almost "secret code" of acronyms that IBers joke about, IB, IBO, EE, CAS, TOK, HL, SL, HOA, DP, MYP, PYP... IA!
(04/14/09 - TAIB just received this e-mail: Comments: "Hey, I'm in Full IB and I think you're site is very true and funny. But there is another acronym that you forgot, it's "IA" it stands for Internal Assessment, it is also used a lot.")
TAIB appreciates the feedback but has to seriously question the "rigor" and academic quality of a program which results in a full DPer not knowing the difference between "your" and "you're".
